Proper Preparation

Before you undertake to drive, be sure that you are properly prepared. Have you had driving lessons from a competent instructor? Do you have knowledge of the state rules and regulations? Are you sure of what the various warning street signs mean? Many high schools and colleges offer courses in driving. These are a great help. If you are taught by a member of your family, some further research may help give you a complete understanding of what is expected of you when you drive. Driving without a license is both irresponsible and illegal. Parents and young people are wise to insist that only licensed drivers handle a car. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, as many teen-age drivers have learned to their sorrow.

The Right Attitude

No matter how great your driving skill is, you may still be far from ready to drive. Your attitude can literally mean the difference between life and death. Do you believe in driving carefully? Are you convinced that juvenile “car games” such as “chicken” are dangerous? Cars are a means of transportation; they are not toys to play with or means for showing off. The papers are filled with stories of young people who died or were seriously hurt trying to prove to their dates how fast they could drive, or trying to “outrun” the police. Actually you prove nothing by taking chances except your unreadiness to drive at all.

Girls, too, must be psychologically ready for car dates. Before you go off on a joy ride, do you consider how well you know the driver? Will he respect your wishes about safety precautions? Do you feel you would have the courage to get out of a car if a boy threatened to drive recklessly? Your life might depend on it. It’s up to a girl to let her date know that she is definitely NOT interested in watching the speedometer climb or racing another car. Without being rude, she can let the driver know that she considers unsafe driving childish. If she cannot convince the boy, which is rarely the case, she can insist that he stop the car and let her out.

SAFETY FIRST

Knowledge of the basic rules of driving safety, and being concerned about following them, is very important. When you are driving, drive. The driver’s seat is no place for games, for necking, or for proving your power. You can’t concentrate on other things and still be a safe driver. A girl has to keep this in mind too. If she wants to be sure of getting home that night, she shouldn’t snuggle up too close while her date is driving. Distracting the driver can cause accidents. The car is a powerful machine; it can be safe or it can be deadly. It all depends on you.

Speeding Is Murder

Speeding is one of the most frequent causes of accidents. Most states designate speed limits in all areas. The speed laws tell you the maximum speed at which it is safe to drive.

On dark nights, on unfamiliar roads, you will probably want to drive considerably under the limit. Whether or not there is a speed limit, you must be extremely careful not to drive faster than is safe. You would not consider stabbing someone with a knife, but speeding can be just as murderous. Again, a girl shares her car date’s responsibility. If she lets the boy drive too fast, she shares the guilt if an accident occurs.